The most melodramatic rebirth in history

Chapter 23 Choosing a Camping Spot

The sky and earth were a hazy yellow, everything was indistinct, a cool breeze was blowing, and in the Taoist temple on the small hill north of Gujing Village...

“Master, it is now past 7 PM and dusk is approaching. You may set off now…”

Zhang Dan bowed and reminded the old Taoist priest with the ox-nose who was sitting on the cushion with his eyes closed in meditation.

Since Zhang Dan began his apprenticeship, he had never seen his master so focused on his cultivation.

Normally, Master Xu seems to be either playing with strange and old antiques or repeatedly counting and examining copper coins, but today is quite unusual!

"Phew! I understand..."

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Xu Banxian said calmly, "Zhang Dan, if I were to encounter any misfortune this time, I will entrust the Banxian Taoist Temple to you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dan felt a sense of unease.

Although he could vaguely see that Xu Banxian's lips and forehead were somewhat dark by the dim candlelight, he couldn't figure out the other party's intentions!

"Master, please take this pill! That thieving old man... he probably wouldn't harm you!"

Zhang Dan's eyes were slightly red, and her voice trembled.

Although he sometimes despised and even loathed the old Taoist priest's despicable character, when it came to the moment of life and death, he couldn't help but feel his emotions surge and shed tears!
After all, a teacher for a day is a teacher for life! Even pigs and dogs have feelings, let alone humans?

"Shut up! Don't mention this matter again, or I will disown you as my disciple!"

Xu Banxian's face was gloomy as he angrily rebuked Zhang Dan, but inwardly he smiled bitterly: "The ominous number of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle is destined to come... there's no escaping it!"

Xu Banxian never imagined that the water ghost's corpse poison was so potent!

If he had swallowed that extraordinary pill earlier, he might have been saved, but how could he compromise with his enemy?

At this point, the poison had already invaded his bone marrow; even a celestial being would find it difficult to save him!
After a furious shout, Xu Banxian drifted off into a trance. Zhang Dan, meanwhile, lowered his head, his body trembling.

"Whoosh!" A cold wind swept into the Taoist temple, and the entire hall fell silent. The two people, one sitting and one standing, created a subtly somber and oppressive atmosphere.

"Master, I have retrieved the spirit tablet of the Ninth Patriarch. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Very good! Xu Hui, place the memorial tablet on the ground and step back three meters to observe my ritual!"

The scene was broken when a disciple dressed as a gatekeeper returned with a gilded black spirit tablet of unknown material.

"Hah! By the great master of the Demon Ancestor, Xu Lu, the eleventh generation disciple of the Green Moss Temple, comes to request the incantation!"

With a loud shout, Xu Banxian unleashed his aura.

The spirit tablet suddenly rose two meters into the air and began to spin. Immediately afterward, Xu Banxian bit the tip of his tongue, and a drop of his essence blood shot out and merged into the spirit tablet.

"Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Curse... Unleash!"

After the blood seeped in, Xu Banxian made a hand seal and shouted, causing the spirit tablet to spin faster and faster.

"Click, click!"

Immediately afterwards, fine cracks appeared on the surface of the wildly spinning and trembling spirit tablet, as if something inside was breaking free from its restraints.

"Bang—!" A dazzling golden light flashed, and the spirit tablet shattered violently.

A golden rune shot out from it, merrily circling the room twice.

Finally, Xu Banxian used his Qi to guide the rune into his hand, and it dissipated its brilliance.

"Hiss!" Zhang Dan and the other man were dumbfounded.

The runes held by Xu Banxian in his hands were completely black, their shape and size similar to an adult's palm, and they displayed dark gold palm lines.

If the talisman hadn't been flat, the two of them would have almost suspected that it was a real hand!
"The Nine Heavens Demon Spell was created by the legendary Ghost Spirit Ancestor Mo Jue of my Green Moss Temple, who reached the eleventh level. When the power of ghosts and gods is sufficient, this spell can unleash a full-force attack comparable to that of an eleventh-level expert!"

"Hiss!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Dan and the other person gasped again, their eyes burning with fervor.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the eleventh level is only one level more than the tenth level. This one level is like an insurmountable chasm, distinguishing the strength of advanced and legendary ghost spirit masters!

"What a pity! My cultivation is not enough. After so many years of nurturing and accumulating, I have only just managed to raise the power of the talisman to the tenth level!"

Xu Banxian sighed, but this did not stop Zhang Dan and the other man from continuing to gaze intently at each other.

"Ten levels! Our cultivation levels are all at the fifth level... that's only ten levels combined!"

"A mere talisman is terrifying! It's twice the power of our combined cultivation!"

Zhang Dan and his companion exchanged a startled glance, thinking to themselves: that power could probably wipe them out in the blink of an eye, leaving not even a trace! Hearing this, Xu Banxian smiled without saying a word, neither correcting nor scolding the two who had never seen the world.

The reason he brought out this talisman was to kill the evil spirits with lightning speed before Feng Ling could, and also to show off.

"Disciple, let's go!"

Xu Banxian was in high spirits.

Zhang Dan and his companion immediately snapped out of their daze and quickly set off to follow the departing figure.

******
A cold wind howled, and faint lights could be seen emanating from the ancient well village from the small hill.

In the darkness, three figures swiftly moved through the shadowy woods. This time, Xu Banxian could be said to have come prepared with ulterior motives!

This is what he was thinking: I'm going to die anyway! If I win the life-or-death bet, I'll take another old Taoist priest with me; if I lose, I'll drag another old Taoist priest down with me!

Unfortunately, Xu Banxian had no idea that Feng Ling had two bodies. If he hadn't killed both bodies at the same time, it would have been difficult for Feng Ling to die!

Even if the clone perishes along with Xu Banxian, as long as the main body survives, it can still be rebuilt with some effort. That's why Feng Ling spoke so decisively before!

******
At the entrance of Gujing Village, an anxious old man paced back and forth, glancing outwards from time to time, and the lanterns went out several times.

"Old Wang!"

Feng Ling called out, and the old man turned around with delight, quickly picking up his lantern to greet him.

"Grandma, you've finally arrived!"

Looking at the withered old man's face, Old Wang breathed a sigh of relief. "Everything at home is ready! Please come with me."

"Don't rush, there are still some people who haven't arrived yet!"

Feng Ling seemed to be implying something. Old Wang, who had just turned around to lead the way, paused for a moment, then suddenly realized.

A quarter of an hour later, three figures emerged from the pitch-black night; it was Xu Banxian and his two companions.

Caesar poison seeps into bone marrow?
Upon first glance at Xu Banxian, Feng Ling immediately noticed something amiss in his appearance!
Furthermore, to Feng Ling's surprise, the group didn't argue when they met him this time! But that was fine too; Feng Ling was happy to have some peace and quiet!

Xu Banxian also had his own thoughts and plans. Knowing that too much talk would lead to mistakes, he kept silent and followed Lao Wang, leaving Lao Wang, who could only get a "hmm" nod no matter what he said, feeling very embarrassed!
"Phew! Everyone, we've arrived at my home!"

Suddenly, the silence was broken. Old Wang stopped his heavy steps and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay. You should leave now and tell the villagers to stay away and not come to watch the commotion!"

Feng Ling smiled wryly. None of the villagers were asleep yet, and they were all keeping a certain distance around Old Wang's house!
Are all the villagers in this world this bold?
"Also, there are too many trees in your yard, and a large portion of them need to be transplanted!" Feng Ling added as Old Wang was leaving.

******
Is it finally starting?
This is the last stop in Gujing Village. Feng Ling doesn't know where the next stop will lead.

Having traveled for so long, he has subdued many evil spirits that were causing trouble among the people. His main body is only one level eight ghost away from advancing to the eighth level, while his clone is only one step away from breaking through to the ninth level!
Having lurked there for so long yesterday, Feng Ling sensed a strange fluctuation, but couldn't pinpoint its exact location. This showed that the evil entity hiding in Old Wang's house was definitely not a good one. Feng Ling was also quite expectant, thinking to himself, "I hope it's not too weak!"

"Zhang Dan, you two stay here to guard against any unforeseen circumstances!"

"Yes, Master, be careful!"

After giving instructions, Xu Banxian quickly followed Feng Ling and leaped up, flying over the wall that was a full ten feet high but practically useless.

Upon landing in the courtyard, Xu Banxian glanced at the surrounding bushes, frowned deeply, and said in a deep voice, "The yin energy is heavy, and ghostly shadows are everywhere!"

As expected of an old Taoist priest!
Feng Ling secretly praised him, thinking, "That's a really sharp eye..."

"Fellow Daoist, where do you plan to hide?"

Under the bed!

Feng Ling was slightly taken aback. It seemed that this was the first time Xu Banxian had addressed him as a fellow Daoist. Although he was surprised and suspicious, Feng Ling still told him the truth.

"Therefore, I will hide myself on the beam!"

As they were talking, the old Taoist priest with the ox-nose leaped into the house, a gust of wind sweeping through and stirring the trees in the courtyard. Countless leaves rustled and fell!

Hidden on the beams and pillars...

Are you trying to spite me?

Upon realizing this, Feng Ling immediately shook his head.

In fact, both locations have their advantages and disadvantages: under the bed is good for hiding and observation, but one's movements are somewhat restricted when making a move; on the beams and pillars, one's movements are unrestricted when making a move, but one is also more likely to be detected by the evil spirit that controls the black beams and pillars!
The main problem is that, to this day, no one knows exactly what that evil entity is, and it would be extremely unwise to expose it rashly before a countermeasure has been devised.

Fortunately, with the clues provided by Elder Wang, Feng Ling already had a vague answer in his mind!
(End of this chapter)